Weekly Roundup #7

A funny holiday guide, December reads, Christian Wiman, and more

Photo by Peter Zhang on Unsplash

Hi there! Behold this week’s roundup, which includes a lot of silliness, book lists, Taylor Swift, and a hot cocoa board. What a combination, huh?

Totally on Top of It - Mary’s Pocketful of Prose

My friend Mary wrote a hilarious “guide” to having a happy holiday season. Don’t miss it.

Totally on Top of It

How the Poet Christian Wiman Keeps His Faith - The New Yorker

Casey Cep (author of Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, which is very good) wrote a wonderful profile of Christian Wiman, a poet and thinker I deeply respect. His book, My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer, means a lot to me.

Bridget Jones, Santaland Diaries and A Christmas Carol: 25 literary treats to read this December - The Guardian

I love a seasonal read! Santaland Diaries is one of my favorites. Sedaris’s essay about being a department store elf never gets old.

7 Books About Authorship Hoaxes - Electric Lit

I’ve enjoyed a couple of books about authorship hoaxes (Yellowface and The Plot), so I was eager to get more suggestions. The Book of Goose is high on my TBR right now.

12 books that NPR critics and staff were excited to share with you in 2023 - NPR

Two of my 2023 favorites are on this list, and several of the other titles sound fantastic, especially Biography of X.

The 38 Best Books We Read in 2023 - Lit Hub

Lit Hub is one of my favorite sites for bookish writing and news, so I was excited to see their list of best books. It includes backlist titles as well as 2023 releases.

A Harvard Professor Prepares to Teach a New Subject: Taylor Swift - New York Times

I love everything about this idea. Bringing pop culture to academia fascinates me.

The National Lyrics or Things My Dad Says While Refusing to Check Google Maps? - McSweeney’s

I love The National, my dad, and Google Maps, so this piece was made for me.

Christmas Hot Chocolate Board - Studio DIY

Am I going to make this? Absolutely not. Do I want it in my life? Desperately.

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That’s it from me this week. Now it’s your turn! I’ve decided to start asking a question at the end of these roundups, and this week’s is:

What song have you had on repeat lately?

Thanks for reading!